A lack of funding and neglect by federal lawmakers are amongst
reasons a key chairperson resigned from the U.S. Electoral Assistance
Commission.

Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, and frustration
over limited staff, offices and resources, White House appointed
Election Assistance Commission (EAC) chairman DeForest Soaries on April
22 announced his resignation from the EAC.

Soaries stated "All four of us [his fellow commissioners] had to work
without staff, without offices, without resources. I don't think our
sense of personal obligation has been matched by a corresponding sense
of commitment to real reform from the federal government.”

The EAC was created in the wake of the 2000 presidential election as
required by the Help America Vote Act, a bill passed by Congress in
response to public outcry regarding electoral irregularities in Florida
and other others around the country.

However, since its inception, the body has been hampered by a
slow-acting Congress to appropriate funds and limited authority to
institute policy changes. Even though the EAC was created in
2001, it did not have its first meeting, office space or staff until
just a few months before the presidential election in mid 2004.

Desories resignation is indicative of the larger structural problems
that continue to plague every U.S. election. If the EAC, a body
whose sole purpose is to hear electoral irregularities and make
recommendations to improve our voting system is neglected by Congress
and deemed irrelevant, if this body does not have the resources or the
financial support to perform its duties then there is every indication
future elections will suffer from the same problems exhibited during
the 2000 and 2004 elections.

A strong, well-supported and financed EAC is critical if we want to better elections in the future.

"Most Californians register to vote not because a political cause has touched their heart, but rather because they checked a box on a form at the Department of Motor Vehicles when they received or renewed their driverís license."